Freshly graduated Southmont High School senior and record-breaking pole vaulter Tyler Petroski is raising the bar for high school athletics, both figuratively and literally.
Petroski, who joined the track team in sixth grade but only started pole vaulting freshman year, is now both the Southmont and county-wide record holder for pole vault with a height of 14 feet. He will bring his skill to the state track and field competition today as the only qualifier from Southmont.
Despite his over-the-top achievements his senior year, his freshman year was a different story, which he simply tells with one word: “rough.” Since then, his personal best has over doubled.
“Matt Williams — my pole vault coach for four years — has been really motivational through the highs and the lows, and there are plenty of them,” Petroski said. “I’ve gotten a lot stronger and developed athletically, I’ve been a lot more comfortable, and I’ve stepped up to my competition. Before, I was behind everybody and looking for advice, and now I’m helping give advice — to really understand what it means to compete at a higher level.”
Petroski is no stranger to making history: his junior year relay squad broke the school record for the 800-meter relay in 2024. He has also enjoyed success in the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter dashes. Pole vault, though, remains his favorite.
“It’s much different than every other event in track,” he said. “It looked really fun and was a big challenge at the beginning. My parents kind of helped convince me to try it, and I ended up loving it.”
He hopes to add six inches to his 14-foot best today. His winning routine? An hour of practice a day, a breathing pattern, and an omelette for breakfast. He hopes that on top of a potential new best, he might also inspire a younger athlete to follow — or rather, fly — in his footsteps.
“If you love it, stick with it,” Petroski said. “It’s very rewarding, and it’s a huge mental sport. Stay consistent, don’t forget the little things, and you have to work harder than your competition. Don’t miss a rep, and don’t take any workout for granted.”
Petroski certainly hasn’t missed a rep, as his success on the track (and in the field) in high school has led him all the way to an athletic scholarship to Wabash College, where he will be pole vaulting and playing football beginning this fall for the Little Giants.
Until then, you can catch Petroski and the rest of the state qualifiers in action at North Central High School, with the boys’ tournament kicking off today and the girls’ to follow on Saturday.
